U.N. calls for investigation at autism facility

A high ranking United Nations official has declared electric shock to be "torture" as it's used at a facility treating autistic students and requested the United States government to investigate the allegations.
The Judge Rotenberg Center, in Canton, Mass., uses electricity to shock autistic children and children with severe behavior problems.
About 100 students, or nearly half ...

4 comments

Those who “cite students who thrived after leaving the center” are being disingenuous: the students who leave the center know that they may be returned to the center at any time, for any reason, even after age 18. Students are not free to state their honest opinions about the JRC. When they return to their homes, their parents are given shock devices to keep the children in line.

Now, shouldn’t the UN also urge investigation of the 100,000-200,000 people given “electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)” each year in the US? The hospitals are not required to report how many people are given ECT, how many are forcibly given ECT, nor how many die or are comatose, or paralyzed, or brain damaged, from ECT. They are not required to report how much money they are making from ECT. I have read they charge about $75,000 for a course of 12 “treatments.” I’d suggest our corrupt administration and congresspersons be given the “treatment” twelve times. Then they can decide whether or not it’s torture.

Thank you so much Long Island News for reporting this. Please keep us posted. I work with the autistic public and I know that pain infliction or punishment in general are ‘not’ effective on them. Gentleness is most effective and this institution needs to be shut down immediately and all those involved prosecuted for violation of human rights.

Why can’t the “professionals” leave these children alone? I find it hard to believe that 50 percent of these kids need electric shock treatment. I think the real reason is they can charge $75,000 for 12 shock treatments.

Perhaps, they are lining their pockets with fees charged to “tame” these unfortunate children.

It is hard enough for children growing up nowadays. Labeling a child as being autistic does not mean that professionals should take advantage of them.

Has anybody tried just reaching out to these youngsters when they are having a hard time?

There are MILLIONS of things people are doing to help children with autism. There are healthy, hands on therapies that do not include electric shock treatment. I work directly with children with autism, and I find shock treatment of these children completely inhumane. There is no reason for it; you cannot convince me otherwise. These children, however disabled, are human beings. They have rights. If I knew how, I would start a petition against this ludicrous treatment.

About the Author

Claude Solnik covers healthcare, finance, and technology/energy for Long Island Business News.